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Stamens 4(5), didynamous, or 2, equal, inserted one-third to above the middle of the corolla tube, included or rarely exserted; filaments filiform, sometimes flattened, often tape-like below, pubescent to the base or glabrous, partially adnate to the inner surface of the corolla tube; anthers all or only 2 fertile, ovate to linear in outline, coherent or connate, ventrifixed, the 2 unequal, ± parallel thecae dehiscing by longitudinal slits, and separated from each other for their lower quarter; staminodes 0–3, equal, tapering.
Corolla tubular or elsewhere sometimes saccate, violet to reddish, yellowish or white; tube elongate, narrow but often slightly dilated at the anther-level, not expanded at the throat, sparingly pubescent on the lower third inside; limb small, plicate, oblique, 5-lobed or-dentate, occasionally 2-lipped; lobes claviform to setaceous, sometimes emarginate, overlapping in bud, with valvate or slightly contorted aestivation, sometimes with alternating appendages.
Seeds several to numerous, minute, ± prismatic, sometimes flattened on one side; testa somewhat leathery, minutely striate with tubercles in rows, or smooth, glabrous; embryo straight in the abundant endosperm, with the radicle often as wide as the cotyledons.
Ovary subsessile, 2-locular; ovules several–many in each locule, on a fleshy axile placenta, anatropous; style filiform or compressed slightly dilated at the apex; stigma punctiform or slightly capitate, exserted or included.
Calyx shorter than the corolla tube, tubular or campanulate, 4(5)-lobed, not or slightly enlarged in fruit; lobes subequal, short, claviform, with valvate aestivation.
Cymes few–many-flowered, terminal, usually laxly paniculiform, occasionally reduced to one flower; pedicels slender.
Fruit capsular, ± globose or ovoid, apiculate, dry, smooth or rugulose, 2-valved, septicidally dehiscent.
Erect, ascending or sprawling usually herbaceous plants, glabrous or pubescent.
Leaves alternate, or in clusters, petiolate or sessile, entire.
Disk small, annular or cupular.
Flowers somewhat zygomorphic.
